REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AND IMPACT

RABOBANK TO SUPPORT DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION ON THE DALHOUSIE AGRICULTURAL CAMPUS

STUDENTS ENROLLED AT DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY’S Faculty of Agriculture now have access to a new program to better prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow thanks to a $100,000 donation from Rabobank, a premier global food and agribusiness bank. The Cultiv8 Sandbox Discover program provides students with opportunities to explore the entrepreneurial mindset, creative problem solving and innovation and aims to address a serious gap in the innovation pipeline through the building of foundational skills crucial to cost-efficient, sustainable, economic growth. The sponsorship is part of Rabobank’s commitment to strengthening and contributing to the food and agribusiness industry of the future. Cultiv8 focuses on teaching students the skills to become more competitive and innovative, whether that’s within their studies, their work, or as business owners and provides students with tools which they can use for a lifetime. “In our supportive environment, we build confidence in testing ideas through creativity, exploration and collaboration, so that our students can become more competitive in the 21st-century workforce,” explained Cultiv8 Manager Jason Grant.

REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AND IMPACT

Through education, training and research, be recognized and valued by key agricultural communities across the Atlantic Provinces as the leading provider of world-class education, training and research in the field of agriculture.

HIGHLIGHTS:

2014–15

− CASE IH and the Faculty of Agriculture entered a nine-year agreement which will provide the Agricultural Campus with new advanced farm machinery, each year. − One of the largest international development projects ever awarded to a Canadian university, the $18 million Agricultural Transformation through Stronger Vocational

Education program will focus on enhancing current Ethiopian agricultural education programs available at agricultural colleges. − Cultiv8, the Agricultural Sandbox in partnership with Acadia University is launched at the Faculty of Agriculture

2015–16

− A new partnership was developed with the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture to acquire funding for the skills and training gaps identified in previous years’ needs assessments

− David Gray was elected secretary of the Association of Public and Land-Grant

Universities (APLU) International Agriculture Section. − The Faculty of Agriculture completed two $400,000 projects in St. Kitts & Nevis with Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and in Dominica with Dominica State College establishing two new certificate programs in Agri-Business and Entrepreneurship

2016–17

− The first international Aim to Grow conference was held on campus − An Industry Liaison and Innovation officer was hired for the Agricultural Campus with a focus on Agriculture and Aquaculture. − The $3+Milliion Uganda Skills for Development Project (USDP) funded through the

World Bank was contracted with the Ministry of Education and Sports twinning

Dalhousie University with Bukalasa Agricultural College to establish the leading ATVET as a Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Competency Based Education & Training in

Uganda.

2017–18

− The Faculty of Agriculture is proud of its 10-year partnership with the Correctional

Service of Canada whereby the Faculty offers a horticulture skills training program to women at Nova Institution.

− The PEI Farm Technician celebrated its 10- year anniversary. Thanks to the only farm technician apprenticeship program in Canada there are now 25 certified journeypersons on PEI.

2018–19

− A $100,000 donation from Rabobank, a premier global food and agribusiness bank supported the Cultiv8 Sandbox Discover program which provides students with opportunities to explore the entrepreneurial mindset, creative problem solving and innovation and aims to address a serious gap in the innovation pipeline through the